RICHARD WEINER offers clients a distinctive perspective informed by more than 35 years of international trade experience. His work encompasses issues of particular importance to international firms doing business in the United States and clients doing business in the European Union. He has extensive experience representing clients in proceedings before the World Trade Organization (WTO), the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), the European Union’s Directorate-General for Trade and Ministries of Commerce throughout Asia. Richard is a founder of Sidley’s Brussels office, established in 2003, and was its first managing partner. He divides his time between the Washington, D.C. and Brussels offices.
Richard regularly counsels clients in connection with international trade and market access disputes, WTO litigation, trade remedy proceedings and international treaty negotiations. He has been engaged by governments and stakeholders to advise on WTO concerns in sectors such as steel, paper, chemicals, aircraft, aircraft engines, electronics, tires, automobiles and clean technology products.
Building on his exceptional global experience, Richard has handled trade remedies and market access issues in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, the European Union, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.
He has served as legal counsel to the European Commission before the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark Massachusetts/Burma and AMD/Intel litigations and efforts to bar imposition of the death penalty on juveniles.
He has three times been named national runner-up as American Lawyer’s Litigator of the Week for international trade victories on behalf of Sidley clients.
Recent representative matters include:
- Obtaining a victory for a major U.S. energy company avoiding massive duties in the ITC final phase injury investigation on imports of fabricated structural steel.
- Obtaining a victory on behalf of the leading international supplier in the Section 232 national security investigation on imports of titanium sponge.
- Handling anti-dumping, sunset, national security, and safeguards proceedings around the globe for the Japanese steel industry.
- Handling market access and trade remedy disputes in China for U.S. and EU exporters.
- Representing producers, importers, and users of solar products in the largest trade remedy proceedings ever mounted in the U.S. and the EU.
- Representing the victorious party in the first WTO challenge on renewable energy products.
- Acting as legal adviser to the Mission of the State of Israel to the European Union in relation to EU and WTO trade matters, including market access barriers and customs and trade policy issues.
- Handling EU regulatory and market access concerns for leading computer and information technology companies.
Most recently, Richard has been advising clients on various aspects of the legal and policy implications of Brexit.
Strong advocacy on behalf of clients has long earned Richard accolades in leading industry publications. Who’s Who Legal: Trade & Customs describes Richard as “a highly qualified trade lawyer who is loved by clients” and commended him for his “fantastic understanding of industry” and providing “meticulous advice” to clients. Chambers Global, which has ranked him for International Trade/WTO (Asia-Pacific Region) (2021–2024), reports, “Richard Weiner’s range of plaudits includes praise for his ‘huge amount of experience,’ along with his ‘very strong commercial instinct, and his ability to translate legal issues to a commercial context.’” Richard also features prominently in the EU and international trade rankings of other leading bar publications, including Best Lawyers in Belgium where clients have commented that he is “very polished and detailed ... combining deep analytical ability with excellent practical experience.”
Reflecting his international reach, Richard was named 2013 Brussels Trade “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers. The 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in Belgium lists him for Trade Law.
Richard has been cited for his thought leadership in numerous news publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, MLex, National Public Radio, and Bloomberg Businessweek. He has written and lectured on international relations, international trade, EU competition law, telecommunications regulation and international environmental affairs.